Many languages have different words for "this" (something close), "that" (something further), and even "that thing far over there."

My impression is that we have "zeh/zot" which gets used most of the time (with a lot of discussion whether "zu/zo" is a variant of this, something else, an Aramaic version, etc.); but occasionally biblically, Talmudically, and even later, לז was used as "that over there", but it never really became a popular word. Does anyone know anything about this?

Rashbam (to Gen. 24:65 and 37:19) states that indeed "laz(eh)" means "that thing (or person) far away over there." In the latter place he contrasts them using French terms: "halazeh" = "c'il," for something far away; "hazeh" = "c'est," for something right at hand.
–
AlexMay 13 '10 at 17:15